DALLAS — The time is now for the Dallas Cowboys to regroup after a tough loss, but things won’t be much easier in Week 3 as they host the Baltimore Ravens. After a season in which the AFC North combatants advanced all the way to the conference title game, the Ravens began the season with visions of returning to the Super Bowl.
However, things have gotten off to a rocky start in Baltimore. The Ravens have lost two close games to begin the year, and that presents major ramifications for both teams who had elevated goals heading into the year. The desperation bowl has come early for the Cowboys and Ravens.
With that in mind, here are the strengths and weaknesses that the Ravens bring to the Week 3 matchup:
Strength: Running the ball
The run game is a clear strength that should scare the bejesus out of the Cowboys because they struggled to stop the New Orleans Saints rushing attack last week, and that was without a quarterback who can beat them on the ground like reigning MVP Lamar Jackson can. The veteran signal caller utilizes his legs among the best in league history and already has a 100-yard rushing game under his belt this season.
Jackson and running back Derrick Henry will be heading into town hoping to pile on a rushing defense that is allowing 141.5 yards per game so far and gave up close to six yards per carry to Alvin Kamara last week.
Henry could have a big game on his mind after the Cowboys showed no interest in adding him this past offseason. Despite a career that includes five seasons of over 1,000 yards rushing and six consecutive double-digit touchdown years, it’s been a bit of a slow start for Henry as the former Tennessee Titan standout has run for just 131 yards combined in the first two weeks, but he is also rushing for 4.2 yards per carry and has two scores.
This isn’t an ideal time to be playing a Ravens team hungry for their first win, and facing their top seven rushing attack that runs for 168 yards per game presents the most pressing challenge for Dallas.
Weakness: Wide receivers not named Zay Flowers
The Ravens have an adequate passing attack with Jackson at the helm, but it revolves around the tight ends and features just one wide receiver of note. Through two games, the second-year wideout has been the main target for Jackson, and the QB has a good connection with Flowers.
It’s early in the season, but Flowers leads the offense with 13 receptions on 21 targets, for 128 yards and a touchdown. The rest of the WR group has just seven catches for 112 yards on 13 targets total. Outside of Flowers, it’s not a group that should be able to hurt the Cowboys’ secondary.
The strength of Baltimore’s passing game comes through Flowers, as well their two tight ends, Mark Andrews and Isiaah Likely. If Mike Zimmer’s secondary can slow down Flowers and force Jackson to throw elsewhere, the Dallas defense could make things difficult.
Strength: Stopping the run
Not only are the Ravens good at running the ball, but they’re also good at stopping the run. After two weeks, first year defensive coordinator Zach Orr has the league’s top run defense, allowing just 49.5 yards per game. Orr’s unit gave up a measly 1.6 yards per carry against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2, and the little bit of success that the Kansas City Chiefs had in Week 1 came from a reverse that resulted in a 21-yard score.
To compound the potential issues, through two weeks the Cowboys haven’t run the ball well. Dallas’ offense is 25th in the league in rushing at just 85 yards per game and they haven’t produced any big gains.
The lack of a rushing attack has limited what the Cowboys can do offensively, leaving them relying on the passing game. Their failure on the ground is also setting up the offense in longer down and distances on second and third down, making it tougher to move the ball and sustain drives.
One of the Ravens’ strengths matches up perfectly with one of the Cowboys’ weaknesses, a bad combination for McCarthy’s offense.
Weakness: Passing defense
Although they’ve been very good against the run, the Ravens have struggled against the pass. Their secondary has given up the most passing yards per game in the NFL after two games, allowing 257 yards a contest through the air.
A part of the reason for that is Baltimore played the Chiefs, and going against Patrick Mahomes isn’t easy, but Gardner Minshew had nearly the same success throwing the ball as Mahomes, which is a sign of trouble. Mahomes completed 71.4% of his passes, while Minshew completed 79%, so there are potential holes in a secondary for the Ravens even though it boasts two All-Pro players.
Marlon Humphrey is one of the league’s better cornerbacks, and he’s joined by first round pick Nate Wiggins and All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton in the secondary. It hasn’t been a great start for the group, so expect to see the Cowboys try to continue to expose an early weakness from the Ravens.
Strength: Pass rush
The Ravens have a history of having very good pass rushing defenses dating back to the early days of the franchise and that hasn’t changed much. From the start of the 2023 season, Baltimore’s defense has the most sacks in the league with 67. Coming into Week 3, their defense was tied for third with seven QB takedowns through two games.
It’s a defense that creates pressure from all three levels, but they are led by defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, who had 13 sacks last season, and linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who had nine sacks in 2023. That duo has combined for 2.5 sacks so far this season, but they are led in 2024 by edge rusher Odafe Oweh, who has 2.5 sacks.
The Cowboys’ remade offensive line has struggled through two weeks and have given up six sacks, three in each contest. It’s asking the unit a lot to keep the Ravens’ pass rush off Dak Prescott, but if the offense can keep their QB upright, it would go a long way in helping the Cowboys leave Week 3 victorious.
Which matchups do you think favor the Cowboys in their Week 3 contest against Baltimore? Share your thoughts with Ben on X (formerly Twitter) @BenGrimaldi.
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